Civil servants strike in pay row

Striking civil servants have mounted picket lines outside job centres and benefit offices across the UK at the start of a 48-hour walk-out over pay.

The Public & Commercial Services union (PCS) said early indications were that the stoppage was being solidly supported by its members.

The strike will be followed by a ban on overtime, which the union claimed would cause "significant disruption", leading to some offices being closed and those remaining open offering reduced services to the public.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said workers were feeling "angry and demoralised" at the imposition of a three-year pay rise which he claimed would mean a wage freeze for two out of five workers next year.

Mr Serwotka will address a rally in London later and will be joined by leaders of teachers and lecturers amid signs of unrest over pay in other parts of the public sector.

Striking civil servants will also hold a rally in Edinburgh later.

The Department for Work and Pensions said it would do everything it could to minimise disruption caused by the strike.